In the middle of the Mall of Asia Arena floor on Wednesday, the scene felt painfully familiar for Mark Gojo Cruz.
Back in NCAA Season 99, when the bright lights of the juniors finals hit its peak, Gojo Cruz watched as Titing Manalili and the Letran Squires tore away a historic championship from his and Perpetual's grasp.
Two seasons later, it was on the next level against the same opponent, yet it was the same heartbreak.
This time, it was for a finals berth in Season 101. The Altas were the top seed, the favorites, the team everyone assumed would march onto the championship game.
But when the dust settled, it was the Knights celebrating yet again, as they swept the best-of-three series.
READ: Letran goes on rumbling rally vs Perpetual all the way to finals return
And once more, Gojo Cruz was left looking for answers he seemingly still can’t find.
The loss didn’t just sting because Perps was a pleasant surprise as No. 1 coming out of their preliminaries group. It stung even more because this was supposed to be their redemption arc and, personally, his chance to do better from the past.
“Malungkot. Unang-una, siyempre tinalo nila nga kami sa Season 99,” MGC told SPIN.ph.
“Hindi ko talaga nabigyan ng finals exit yung seniors namin, and yun naman talaga yung tina-target ko eh.”
When asked about what makes Letran such a problem, 6-foot-guard doesn’t start with the energy and effort, the depth and balance, or even star guard Manalili. He starts with the man on the bench.
“Hindi lang kay Titing eh, kay coach Allen [Ricardo],” he said. “Kada bagong kalaban niya, may bago silang play. Dinidepende niya sa depensa ng kalaban.”
This isn’t new.
From juniors to seniors, whether Finals, Final Four, or elimination round game, Ricardo has been one step ahead of the maroon-and-gold.
“Lahat siguro ng tinuturuan niya, nakakarating sa finals,” Gojo Cruz said. “Ganda talaga ng sistema niya.”
And at the heart of that system? Manalili, of course.
“Lagi yung sinasabi nila, kryptonite,” MGC acknowledged. “Swerte si Titing sa tiwala sa kanya ni coach Allen.”
On to the next for Perpetual
Without a doubt, this run mattered to him. Even as a sophomore, he knows full well opportunities like this don’t come often.
“Kahit sophomore ako, gusto ko na makapag-champion talaga. Sa three years kong natitira, hindi mo masasabi kung makakapag-Final Four pa ulit,” he stressed.
Still, when he almost passed out in the dugout, there were no regrets for Gojo Cruz.
As he put it, “Binuhos ko na kahit nahilo ako. Ngayon, talo kami, pero wala akong pagsisisi kasi binigay ko naman lahat.”
For now, the story repeats. But unlike before, this wasn’t an ending. For now, hopefully for MGC and the Altas, it's just a detour on their way to the mountaintop.
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